South Korean Director Park Chan-wook Is 2026 Cannes Jury President

Park Chan-wook, the South Korean director best known for “Oldboy,” just reached a big milestone: he will lead the jury as president at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in 2026. That is a first for any South Korean filmmaker in nearly 80 years of Cannes history. Festival officials announced Park’s new role on February 25. The 79th festival runs from May 12 to 23 on the French Riviera. Park takes over from Juliette Binoche, the French actress who led last year’s jury. Under her watch, the Palme d’Or, the festival’s top honor, went to Iranian director Jafar Panahi for “It Was Just an Accident.”
 

Iris Obadia, the festival’s president and Thierry Frémaux, its general delegate, broke the news and praised Park’s knack for exploring the messiness of human nature in his movies. He joins a pretty impressive group of filmmakers who have shaped Cannes, including fellow South Korean Bong Joon Ho, who won the Palme d’Or back in 2019 with “Parasite.” Park isn’t new to Cannes. He competed with “Decision to Leave” in 2022 and left with the Best Director Award. Before that, “Thirst” brought home a jury prize in 2009. He has also been in the running with films like “The Handmaiden.”
 

As jury president, Park will lead a team of film experts to decide which movies stand out from the main competition. The rest of the jury will be announced later. This job puts him right in the thick of discussions over what defines the best in world cinema each year. His appointment is a clear sign that Asian filmmakers are taking on bigger roles at major festivals.